Molana Akhtar Raza Khan اختر رضا خان

Molana Akhtar Raza Khan اختر رضا خان

Allama Molana Akhtar Raza Khan

Akhtar Raza Khan ( اختر رضا خان; Devanagari: अख़्तर रज़ा खान ) is an Islamic jurist, born on Tuesday 2 February 1943 (26 Muharram 1362 Hijri) in the district of Saudagran in the city of Bareilly, India.[1] The name given during his Aqeeqah was Muhammad. He was also given the name Muhammad Ismail Raza. The name by which he is currently known is Akhtar Raza.[2]

He has been ranked 22nd in the list of most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Society of Jordan.[3][4] He has been adjudged in India as leader of the Barelvi movement.

He belongs to the Hanafi school of law of the Sunni denomination of Islam. India is a secular state and the government does not appoint the Grand Mufti (called Mufti-e-Azam in Persian, or Mufti `am in Arabic), nor other religious office-bearers; the Muslim community of India appoint their Grand Mufti.

Education

When Akhtar Raza Khan(Azhari Miyaan) reached the age of 4 years, 4 months, and 4 days, his father, Islamic scholar Maulana Ibrahim Raza Khan, arranged for his Bismillah Khwaani (commencement of Islamic studies).[5] His maternal grandfather Mustafa Raza Khan, performed the ritual.[6]
Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly

He then studied further under the guidance of his father.[7] Having completed his basic studies at home, he was enrolled in the Darul Uloom Manzar-e-Islam in Bareilly.[8] There, under the guidance of teachers and scholars, he studied the basic Mizaan, Munshaib, Nahv Meer, then more advanced books such as Hidaya Akhirain.[clarification needed][8]

Akhtar Raza then studied tafsir and ahadith for three years from 1963 to 1966 at the Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.[9][unreliable source?] He was one of the best foreign students to have studied at the Al-Azhar University, securing the first position during every examination.[10][unreliable source?]
Al Azhar University in Cairo

Tasawwuf

Akhtar Raza received many Ijaazahs and Sanads from all over the world, including from Mustafa Raza Khan in many Silsilas including the Qadri, Chishti and Naqshbandi.[11][unreliable source?]
Scholarly activities

Books

Akhtar Raza has written books on topics covering science, religion and philosophy. A collection of fatwas by the title of Azharul Fatawa is his magnum opus.[12][unreliable source?] He also did many translations.[12]

Azharul Fatawa is a collection of English-language fatwa given by Akhtar Raza. The collection has been accepted by Sunni Muslims all over the world and specially by Sunni Muslim Communities living in the United States, Europe, South Africa and Western countries, as the rulings mainly refer to these countries.[12]
Safeena-e-Bakhshish

Akhtar Raza's Diwan (Collection of Naats) was published for the first time entitled Naghmat-e-Akhtar. Later, it was published entitled Safina-e-Bakhshish in 1986. It contains many Naats in the Arabic and Urdu language.[11]

Islamic Chief Justice of India

Akhtar Raza was declared the Qaazi-ul-Quzzaat or Qadi-ul-Qudat (Muslim Chief Justice) of India, relevant to the Muslim community but not an official position, during the Urs e Razavi in October 2006 in the presence of many Ulama, prominent Islamic Scholars and thousands of people, including:[13][unreliable source?][14][unreliable source?][15][unreliable source?]

All India Jamiatul Ulema
Shariah Board
U.P. Muslim Personal Law Council
Shar'ee Council of India

Disciples

Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan leads the Razvi Silsila. He has many mureeds (disciples) in countries including Iraq, Pakistan, Madina, Makkah, India, UK, the Netherlands, South Africa, America, Turkey and Malawi. Many of his mureeds are great Ulema, poets, authors, doctors and research scholars.